How Did I Become an F1 Driver?

After all, the racing setups among drivers vary. If the wrong tires are fitted during a race, it can lead to serious problems on the track.

The entire car building has two floors, the mechanics are downstairs, while the engineers are upstairs.

The upper floor serves as both a meeting room and a place to monitor race car data during competitions. After all, the over three hundred sensors on an F1 car cannot be fully monitored by a pit room and command center.

Therefore, the pit room and command center focus on crucial data, while other less critical data is handled by the engineers here and those in the Mercedes factory for remote monitoring.

If any issues arise, they are communicated to Toto and the others via internal team radio.

Qin Miao's current destination is the engineering department upstairs.

Qin Miao arrived relatively early today, so there were still quite a few people not yet in place when he pushed the door open.

Upon seeing Qin Miao enter, many reached out to greet him. Over the New Year period, Qin Miao relaxed but also made sure to request the team staff list from Toto.

Over this time, he occasionally reviewed it, memorizing two names and faces a day, now Qin Miao pretty much recognizes these staff members.

Hence, Qin Miao can call out their names and greet them, taking his own seat in the process.

Before each Grand Prix, Mercedes holds a meeting here involving mainly engineers and drivers.

The meeting content is recorded throughout to facilitate drivers or engineers in extracting meeting discussions during their reviews.

After roughly half an hour of waiting, other staff gradually arrived, with the Old Man being the one who arrived the latest.

However, others in the team said nothing, seeming to have grown accustomed to the Old Man being late for team meetings.

Once everyone was present, Mercedes' first meeting of the new season began.

Technical Director Mike Elliott was first to speak:

"Firstly, welcome everyone to the new season, hoping that in this season, everyone can strive harder and once again bring home the dual championship titles for the team and drivers."

"That concludes the trivial words, now let's talk about our main objectives during the winter tests."

"First and foremost is verifying whether the simulated data from the simulator aligns with reality, along with testing aerodynamic data."

"The first day's test focuses primarily on aerodynamics, and by the morning, we must receive feedback on the rear and front-end data."

"Additionally, there is the engine, which we have specifically enhanced for durability during the winter break, but testing on the track is needed to determine its effectiveness. This test project is taken care of by Hamilton's car group."

"Next is tire degradation testing. This year, the Pirelli tire formula has not been modified. Qin Miao, your car group will test the degradation limit of W12 using this tire formula, and the degradation situation of grip. I need sufficient data."

"There is also an upgrade in the front brake duct area of the new car, the simulator indicates that the inverted brake ventilation inlet can draw in more cold air, but we are unsure of its efficiency in reality. This task can be tested along with other projects by your two car groups during testing..."

At the start of the meeting, Elliott essentially took a notebook, listing the data needed by the team today, and then instructed the drivers to run the necessary data on the track.

Of course, during this period, the drivers could also fine-tune their setups.

After allocating all tasks in over six minutes, it was time for various department heads and drivers to present their ideas and concerns.

Qin Miao was first to express his opinion:

"I don't think I am suitable to test tire wear. I believe my tire degradation rate is not indicative."

After all, Qin Miao has two Passive Skills which cannot be underestimated, with 38% average tire wear reduction.

Where others struggle with hard tires after 50 laps, Qin Miao maintains average grip levels after 50 laps on a set of hard tires, with usage heading toward 70 laps.

On tracks requiring two stops for other teams, Qin Miao completes the race with one yellow-white stop without slowing down at all.

While others stop yellow-white, Qin Miao stops red-yellow.

Pirelli must have specially adjusted it.

However, Elliott stated:

"Rejected, the reason for assigning this task to you was consideration of your outstanding tire preservation ability in F2, so we want you to try testing the tire limits on W12."

Faced with Elliott's reasoning, Qin Miao could only nod helplessly.

What else could he say? Tell him he has a system, and it's due to a System Skill? That wouldn't be plausible.

Moreover, after Elliott finished speaking, others stood out to raise their issues, leaving Qin Miao with no choice but to give up.

However, his tire degradation data truly lacks indicative significance...

After about thirty minutes, most who raised their issues had received satisfactory answers or solutions.

Following the meeting's conclusion, Qin Miao and Hamilton had approximately an hour for final preparations before the start of winter testing, with a four-hour countdown beginning in 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Both got up from their seats.

Stretching a bit, grabbing the tablet prepared by the team, Qin Miao turned and entered the room marked with his name and national flag.

This was Qin Miao's resting room, not far, just behind his seat; turning and opening the door brought him inside.

Once inside, Qin Miao closed the door, adjusting the glass from frosted to semi-transparent due to the absence of spectators in the garage during the winter break, feeling no concern over privacy.

The room wasn't large, around ten square meters.

Some might argue that their home's bathroom is larger than ten square meters, and having a resting room of merely ten square meters for a Mercedes driver worth millions might sound unreasonable.

But it's important to note that Qin Miao's resting room is built within a confined space strictly limited in size by FOM. Having a ten square meter room in such an area, costing more than a Beijing school district house, is considered luxurious.

The room is not large, yet is equipped with numerous items.

A sofa allowing Qin Miao to lie flat, a TV broadcasting SKY television, a wardrobe for clothes, a bathroom.

Essentially, everything Qin Miao might need during preparation is available here.

Due to the special attributes of drivers' resting rooms, Qin Miao's neighboring room is the Old Man's, separated by a not very soundproof board.

Moreover, the Old Man enjoys singing during waiting periods, so as Qin Miao sat in his resting room reviewing the meeting, planning his testing approach at the circuit, the Old Man's singing could be heard from next door...

Qin Miao shook his head helplessly, then put on noise-canceling headphones.

These noise-canceling headphones were supplied by sponsors.

Qin Miao's initial driver goodie bag included three pairs of such noise-canceling headphones.

Other team gear, shoes, watches tailored to his physique, were countless.

Not long after, the door to his resting room was knocked upon.

However, due to wearing noise-canceling headphones, Qin Miao heard no knocking.

These noise-canceling headphones could block out the frightening noise of F1 car engines, so not hearing the door knock was quite normal.

Though the person at the door had a good relationship with Qin Miao, finding no response after a knock, they simply pushed the door open.

Although noise was inaudible, Qin Miao's vision remained effective, glimpsing someone at the door before turning to check.

He saw someone in black trousers, a white Mercedes work vest standing at the entrance.

As Qin Miao fully raised his head, intending to view who it was, Qimeng's face appeared in his sight.